Brazil is the largest country in South America by area and population. The fifth largest country in the world. It has common borders with all the states of South America (except Chile and Ecuador).
The name Brazil comes from the name of the mahogany growing here – pau-brasil. The capital is the city of Brasilia.
According to SHOPPINGPICKS, Brazil is washed from the east by the Atlantic Ocean and borders on all South American countries. The country is divided into 21 states, 4 territories and one federal district, where the capital city of Brasilia is located.
The climate is hot. Temperature from +16 to +30*С. The country has the largest number of primate species in the world (77 species), the largest number of freshwater fish species (3000 species). The country ranks second in the number of amphibian species, third in the number of bird species, and fifth in the number of reptile species.
The climate is from equatorial in the northwest to subtropical in the southeast, the average temperatures in January are from +23 to +29*C, in July from +16 to +24*C.
The seasons are opposite to the Northern Hemisphere. It is always humid in Rio de Janeiro, from November to March it is very hot, the best time to visit is from May to August. At this time, the air temperature here ranges from +18 to +22*C, and a light warm breeze blows from the ocean. In mountainous areas in winter, the temperature can drop to 0*C.
The worst month is July, because cold and it often rains. In the Amazon, the dry season lasts from August to early December, from December to April – very hot, rare rains, from May to July – heavy rains.
Useful phone numbers
Country code +55;
Codes of some cities: Brasilia (61), Rio de Janeiro (21), Manaus (92), El Salvador (71), Sao Paulo (11).
Fire Department: 1-93;
Police: 1-90.
Embassy of Russia in Brasilia:
Address: Avenida das Nacoes, SES, lote A, quadra 801, Bgasilia-DF, Brasil CEP 70476 – 900.
Phone: +(5561) 223-3094 / 223-4094
Consulate General of Russia in Rio de Janeiro:
Address: Rua Professor Azevedo Marques, 50 – Leblon, CEP.: 22450-030, Rio de Janeiro – RJ
Phone: +(5521) 2274-0097
Brazil is the host nation of the 2014 FIFA World Cup.
Brazil is the host nation of the 2016 Summer Olympics.
Brazil is known all over the world as the country of football and samba, the fabulously beautiful city of Rio de Janeiro and the impenetrable jungle, and, of course, the most spectacular carnivals. It is rightly called a country of contrasts: lush tropical forests side by side with majestic mountains, wild jungles with multimillion-dollar megacities, magnificent beaches and huge rivers with deserted plateaus, roaring waterfalls with cozy quiet ocean bays.
Each region is a special geographical and ethnic world. Of the natural attractions, the most famous are the beaches of Copacabana, Ipanema and Leblon in Rio de Janeiro, Sugar Loaf Mountain, Corcovado Mountain, Foz de Iguazu National Park, Iguazu Falls.
The pre-colonial history of Brazil does not know highly developed civilizations like the Aztec or Inca. Before the arrival of Europeans, Brazil was inhabited by the Indian tribes of Arawaks and Caribs in the north, Tupi-Guarani – on the east coast and in the Amazon Valley, Pano – in the west.
At the beginning of the 16th century, Portuguese conquistadors invaded here, destroying most of the indigenous population and creating large plantation farms using the slave labor of blacks imported from Africa. As a result of the liberation movement in 1822, the country was proclaimed an independent empire (from 1889 – a federal republic). Official name: Federative Republic of Brazil (Republica Federativa do Brasil). Government – a federation of 26 states, and the Federal (capital) district.
The official language is Portuguese, Spanish is widely spoken, French, German, Italian are also used. In the hinterland, “lingua geral” is widely used – a common language that arose on the basis of the languages of the Tupi-Guarani Indian tribes, as well as 180 different languages and dialects of ethnic groups.
The country is located in four time zones. Officially, the time is calculated in Brasilia, behind Moscow from the last Sunday of October to the last Sunday of February by 5 hours, from the last Sunday of March to the second Sunday of October – by 7 hours, from the last Sunday of February to the last Sunday of March and from the second Sunday of October to the last Sunday October – at 6 o’clock.
Most believers are Catholics. Many people of African descent still practice various cults.
Resorts and attractions in Brazil
Cities – Salvador (entertainment city) – historical sights, holidays, beach life. Brasilia is a city built entirely according to plan by talented architects. Ouro Preto is a historical city of gold miners. Rio de Janeiro is a rich and beautiful city, beach life. Foz do Iguacu – waterfalls in Iguacu National Park. Sao Paulo is the commercial capital of the country.
Country A tropical giant, a continent within a continent – this is how Brazil, the largest country in South America, is often called. There is a complete variety of natural surroundings: the long Amazon and huge waterfalls, lush rainforests and flat landscapes reminiscent of deserts, ocean coasts and coconut groves. Amazing spirituality and monstrous illiteracy, poverty and wealth, ultra-modern forms of architecture and traditional way of life coexist here.
Interesting facts
The FIFA World Cup will be held in June-July 2014. The Summer Olympic Games will be held in 2016. The
first people appeared on the territory of Brazil between 17 thousand and 6 thousand years BC. e.
Brazil was discovered in 1500 by the Portuguese navigator Pedro Alvares Cabral.
Brazil is the largest producer of sugar and oranges in the world.
The most popular sport in Brazil is football.
The population is about 169.5 million people (2000), the country ranks fifth in the world in terms of population. Brazil is one of the most ethnically diverse countries in South America, a nation that was formed as a result of the mixing of the Portuguese and other European settlers with the native Indians and Negro slaves taken out of Africa. Ethnic composition: whites – 54.7%, blacks – 5.89%, mulattos – 38.45%. There are more than 3 million immigrants in the country (Japanese, Italians, Germans, Arabs, French, etc.). 97% of residents call themselves Brazilians, and Indians – less than 1%. Now Brazil is considered the world leader in inequality in the differentiation of incomes of the population.
The national currency is real = 100 centavos. Money can be changed at banks and exchange offices at travel agencies and shopping centers (the most favorable rate), in hotels (usually only dollars), at airports and train stations. In the middle of 2004, 1 US dollar was exchanged for an average of 2.50 – 3 reais. Most major international credit cards are accepted for payment in large hotels, restaurants and shopping centers in large cities. Traveler’s checks can be cashed at hotels, banks, travel agencies, and most large stores, but the rate is usually somewhat less favorable than when exchanging cash. Restaurants do not usually accept foreign currency and traveler’s checks.
Current frequency 50/60 Hz. The mains voltage in Rio de Janeiro, Sao Paulo, Salvador and Manaus is 127 V, in Brasilia and a number of other cities – 220 V. Sockets also differ – for plugs with two or three flat or round pins. Adapters are available from some hotels or can be purchased from a store.
For stays in resorts, light cotton clothing is most acceptable. Beach outfits are quite democratic. For winter evenings, it is good to have a light sweater. Evening dresses are quite simplified. In the Amazon and Pantanal region, tight, closed clothing is required.
Holidays and weekends.
January 1, Carnival (in February), Good Friday, Easter Monday, April 21, May 1 and 25, June 15, September 7, October 12, November 2 and 15, December 25.
Work of institutions
Government institutions are open from 9:00 to 18:00 from Monday to Friday; Shops – from 9:00 to 18:30 (large – until 22:00 on weekdays) and from 9:00 to 13:00 on Saturdays; Banks are open from 10:00 to 16:00 on weekdays.
Customs
Imported video, film, audio equipment of non-Brazilian production is taxed (up to 30% over the cost of 1500 reais). It is allowed to import duty-free one of the following items: radio, player, video camera, business notebook with computer memory. The import of drugs, firearms, ammunition, medicines, radioactive materials is prohibited. The import of foreign currency is not limited (the amounts over 1 thousand US dollars are declared), the import of national currency is limited. The export of imported foreign currency is allowed, minus expenses in the country, national – under the license of the Central Bank of Brazil. The export of any wild animals, their skins and products made from skins, shells, feathers and claws is prohibited.
